Marshall Herskovitz
@mherskovitz.bsky.social
Writer, producer, director - thirtysomething, Last Samurai, My So-Called Life, Dangerous Beauty. Let's build a future for our children - and their children. LA, PDX
If I were a member of Congress and cared about my country, I would be screaming at the top of my lungs that recess must end RIGHT NOW.
Anyone running for office who is not calling for immediate regulation of AI is either stupid or corrupt.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Anyone running for office who is not calling for immediate regulation of AI is either stupid or corrupt.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
OpenAI safety leader quits, warning AI company’s culture is ‘broken’
David Robinson joins other insiders in urging industry to take more care over rapidly developing technology
www.theguardian.com
October 3, 2026 at 9:18 PM
If I were a member of Congress and cared about my country, I would be screaming at the top of my lungs that recess must end RIGHT NOW.
Anyone running for office who is not calling for immediate regulation of AI is either stupid or corrupt.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Anyone running for office who is not calling for immediate regulation of AI is either stupid or corrupt.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
So interesting that @nytimes.com only tells us about the terrible tempers and abusive behavior of female Democrats in Congress.
I guess the Republicans who support ICE shootings, black-hole deportations, and taking healthcare from millions are just nicer people.
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/23/u...
I guess the Republicans who support ICE shootings, black-hole deportations, and taking healthcare from millions are just nicer people.
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/23/u...
Mary Peltola’s Campaign in Alaska Senate Race Is Rocked by Tumult, With Angry Outbursts and Slurs (Gift Article)
Democrats hope that Mary Peltola can flip a Republican Senate seat in Alaska. Former aides describe a campaign and congressional office marked by chaos.
www.nytimes.com
September 25, 2026 at 3:44 AM
So interesting that @nytimes.com only tells us about the terrible tempers and abusive behavior of female Democrats in Congress.
I guess the Republicans who support ICE shootings, black-hole deportations, and taking healthcare from millions are just nicer people.
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/23/u...
I guess the Republicans who support ICE shootings, black-hole deportations, and taking healthcare from millions are just nicer people.
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/23/u...
1) Jonathan Kaufman comprehensively deconstructs the terrible damage done by neoliberalism, which GE CEO Jack Welch essentially defined in 2009 as the "single-minded pursuit--
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/09/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/09/o...
Opinion | Blame Ronald Reagan (Gift Article)
We are suffering the consequences of the conservative revolution that began in the 1980s.
www.nytimes.com
September 9, 2026 at 6:07 PM
1) Jonathan Kaufman comprehensively deconstructs the terrible damage done by neoliberalism, which GE CEO Jack Welch essentially defined in 2009 as the "single-minded pursuit--
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/09/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/09/o...
Perfect irony:
After spending 100's of billions in a race to eliminate American jobs and pollute the American landscape, the sociopaths running our giant AI companies will now see their own jobs eliminated by cheaper AI from China.
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/04/t...
After spending 100's of billions in a race to eliminate American jobs and pollute the American landscape, the sociopaths running our giant AI companies will now see their own jobs eliminated by cheaper AI from China.
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/04/t...
Corporate America Is Getting Hooked on Open-Source A.I. (Gift Article)
Companies like AT&T are increasingly using cheap, freely available artificial intelligence models over expensive ones from Anthropic and OpenAI.
www.nytimes.com
September 4, 2026 at 6:14 PM
Perfect irony:
After spending 100's of billions in a race to eliminate American jobs and pollute the American landscape, the sociopaths running our giant AI companies will now see their own jobs eliminated by cheaper AI from China.
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/04/t...
After spending 100's of billions in a race to eliminate American jobs and pollute the American landscape, the sociopaths running our giant AI companies will now see their own jobs eliminated by cheaper AI from China.
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/04/t...
Great Conversation Live with The Intellectualist today, covering everything from My So-Called Life to income inequality to World War III! Thank you, Brian!
Please watch!
theintellectualistofficial.substack.com/p/live-with-...
Please watch!
theintellectualistofficial.substack.com/p/live-with-...
Live with The Intellectualist
A recording from The Intellectualist's live video
theintellectualistofficial.substack.com
August 15, 2026 at 10:00 PM
Great Conversation Live with The Intellectualist today, covering everything from My So-Called Life to income inequality to World War III! Thank you, Brian!
Please watch!
theintellectualistofficial.substack.com/p/live-with-...
Please watch!
theintellectualistofficial.substack.com/p/live-with-...
Story that got WAY too little attention last week:
Todd Blanche on a call with faith leaders assured them DOJ and WH are “working hand-in-hand" to make sure the "DOBBS DECISION BECOMES PERMANENT IN EVERY SINGLE STATE.”
thehill.com/policy/healt...
Todd Blanche on a call with faith leaders assured them DOJ and WH are “working hand-in-hand" to make sure the "DOBBS DECISION BECOMES PERMANENT IN EVERY SINGLE STATE.”
thehill.com/policy/healt...
Blanche pledges to make Dobbs decision ‘permanent’ in every state
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told faith leaders he is planning to roll back abortion access even in states that have laws protecting it. On a private call last week hosted by the Whit…
thehill.com
August 9, 2026 at 11:18 PM
Story that got WAY too little attention last week:
Todd Blanche on a call with faith leaders assured them DOJ and WH are “working hand-in-hand" to make sure the "DOBBS DECISION BECOMES PERMANENT IN EVERY SINGLE STATE.”
thehill.com/policy/healt...
Todd Blanche on a call with faith leaders assured them DOJ and WH are “working hand-in-hand" to make sure the "DOBBS DECISION BECOMES PERMANENT IN EVERY SINGLE STATE.”
thehill.com/policy/healt...
Reposted by Marshall Herskovitz
As Ed Elson & @justinwolfers.bsky.social
point out on @profgalloway.com's Prof G Markets...
...disordered psychological thinking underpins the failures of both the tariffs & the Iran war.
As I wrote on page 128 of @bandylee.bsky.social's, "The MUCH more dangerous case of Donald Trump"...
1/
point out on @profgalloway.com's Prof G Markets...
...disordered psychological thinking underpins the failures of both the tariffs & the Iran war.
As I wrote on page 128 of @bandylee.bsky.social's, "The MUCH more dangerous case of Donald Trump"...
1/
August 2, 2026 at 1:39 PM
As Ed Elson & @justinwolfers.bsky.social
point out on @profgalloway.com's Prof G Markets...
...disordered psychological thinking underpins the failures of both the tariffs & the Iran war.
As I wrote on page 128 of @bandylee.bsky.social's, "The MUCH more dangerous case of Donald Trump"...
1/
point out on @profgalloway.com's Prof G Markets...
...disordered psychological thinking underpins the failures of both the tariffs & the Iran war.
As I wrote on page 128 of @bandylee.bsky.social's, "The MUCH more dangerous case of Donald Trump"...
1/
1) The moral collapse of the great law firm Paul Weiss perfectly illustrates the fatal difference between capitalism and neoliberalism.
Famous for decades for its groundbreaking pro-bono, pro-social victories, the firm--
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/02/u...
Famous for decades for its groundbreaking pro-bono, pro-social victories, the firm--
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/02/u...
How a Top Law Firm Went From Standing Up to Trump to Bending the Knee (Gift Article)
Paul Weiss was a progressive stalwart for decades and led the legal resistance against President Trump in his first term. Then it surrendered without a fight. This is the inside story of its transform...
www.nytimes.com
August 2, 2026 at 5:45 PM
1) The moral collapse of the great law firm Paul Weiss perfectly illustrates the fatal difference between capitalism and neoliberalism.
Famous for decades for its groundbreaking pro-bono, pro-social victories, the firm--
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/02/u...
Famous for decades for its groundbreaking pro-bono, pro-social victories, the firm--
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/02/u...
Reposted by Marshall Herskovitz
🎯 @repwalkinshaw.bsky.social : “Any senator who votes to confirm Todd Blanche should know — you’re now part of the cover-up. You’re complicit in the cover-up if you vote to confirm the Todd Blanche for attorney general, who has led the cover-up of the Epstein Files.”
July 11, 2026 at 2:30 PM
🎯 @repwalkinshaw.bsky.social : “Any senator who votes to confirm Todd Blanche should know — you’re now part of the cover-up. You’re complicit in the cover-up if you vote to confirm the Todd Blanche for attorney general, who has led the cover-up of the Epstein Files.”
Reposted by Marshall Herskovitz
As seen throughout his life, JD Vance is a shapeshifting sociopath.
Here, he pathetically mimics not just Trump's persecution complex, but also Trump's cadence and inflection when speaking in the 1st person about himself: "JD"
...and when he says, "...and the media didn't care about that."
1/
Here, he pathetically mimics not just Trump's persecution complex, but also Trump's cadence and inflection when speaking in the 1st person about himself: "JD"
...and when he says, "...and the media didn't care about that."
1/
July 3, 2026 at 10:31 PM
As seen throughout his life, JD Vance is a shapeshifting sociopath.
Here, he pathetically mimics not just Trump's persecution complex, but also Trump's cadence and inflection when speaking in the 1st person about himself: "JD"
...and when he says, "...and the media didn't care about that."
1/
Here, he pathetically mimics not just Trump's persecution complex, but also Trump's cadence and inflection when speaking in the 1st person about himself: "JD"
...and when he says, "...and the media didn't care about that."
1/
Reposted by Marshall Herskovitz
This man, who I understand to be a 17 year veteran, likely just threw away his military career.
He is a patriot of the first order.
He is a patriot of the first order.
Today, our friend Jay
USAF Major Jason Watson read his oath to the Constitution and demanded that Congress do its job to IMPEACH this President and cabinet. He was arrested on the Capitol steps.
#DOOR
@defendersofourrepublic.org
@removalcoalition.bsky.social
@citizensimpeachment.com
USAF Major Jason Watson read his oath to the Constitution and demanded that Congress do its job to IMPEACH this President and cabinet. He was arrested on the Capitol steps.
#DOOR
@defendersofourrepublic.org
@removalcoalition.bsky.social
@citizensimpeachment.com
July 1, 2026 at 9:15 PM
This man, who I understand to be a 17 year veteran, likely just threw away his military career.
He is a patriot of the first order.
He is a patriot of the first order.
Reposted by Marshall Herskovitz
1) Further evidence that a growing part of the Democratic coalition has disconnected from reality.
The activist screaming in Wiener's face crossed the line from political speech to physical threat. (A threat against a pro-trans candidate--
www.nytimes.com/2026/06/27/u...
The activist screaming in Wiener's face crossed the line from political speech to physical threat. (A threat against a pro-trans candidate--
www.nytimes.com/2026/06/27/u...
Pro-Transgender Candidate Is Chased From a Trans Rights Event Over Gaza
www.nytimes.com
June 28, 2026 at 3:06 PM
1) Further evidence that a growing part of the Democratic coalition has disconnected from reality.
The activist screaming in Wiener's face crossed the line from political speech to physical threat. (A threat against a pro-trans candidate--
www.nytimes.com/2026/06/27/u...
The activist screaming in Wiener's face crossed the line from political speech to physical threat. (A threat against a pro-trans candidate--
www.nytimes.com/2026/06/27/u...
1) A righteous and necessary Democratic populist economic movement is in danger of being hijacked by extremists who espouse insanity already rejected by 90% of Americans.
Dems must decide if they're willing to do the hard work of saving America--
www.nytimes.com/2026/06/24/o...
Dems must decide if they're willing to do the hard work of saving America--
www.nytimes.com/2026/06/24/o...
Opinion | Democrats Are Done With Caution
www.nytimes.com
June 25, 2026 at 2:25 PM
1) A righteous and necessary Democratic populist economic movement is in danger of being hijacked by extremists who espouse insanity already rejected by 90% of Americans.
Dems must decide if they're willing to do the hard work of saving America--
www.nytimes.com/2026/06/24/o...
Dems must decide if they're willing to do the hard work of saving America--
www.nytimes.com/2026/06/24/o...
Once in a great while the news is not all bad:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Trump administration reverses decision to scrap ocean monitoring system
Move to dismantle $368m sea observatory initiative faced opposition from experts and lawmakers
www.theguardian.com
June 19, 2026 at 1:15 AM
Once in a great while the news is not all bad:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
1) Today is a day to teach and remember. First and foremost the heroism of those - many our fathers and grandfathers - who waded into hell in order to save freedom from the forces of tyranny.
But we must also teach and remember that millions--
But we must also teach and remember that millions--
June 6, 2026 at 6:41 PM
1) Today is a day to teach and remember. First and foremost the heroism of those - many our fathers and grandfathers - who waded into hell in order to save freedom from the forces of tyranny.
But we must also teach and remember that millions--
But we must also teach and remember that millions--
1) Piece notes today's average CEO pay is 465 times what workers make. Not noted is that in 1965 - during America's greatest period of growth, when the world's greatest middle class was built - average CEO pay was only 30 times--
www.nytimes.com/2026/06/05/b...
www.nytimes.com/2026/06/05/b...
Led by Elon Musk, C.E.O. Pay Heads Toward the Stars
www.nytimes.com
June 5, 2026 at 9:31 PM
1) Piece notes today's average CEO pay is 465 times what workers make. Not noted is that in 1965 - during America's greatest period of growth, when the world's greatest middle class was built - average CEO pay was only 30 times--
www.nytimes.com/2026/06/05/b...
www.nytimes.com/2026/06/05/b...
Sebastian Junger is a brilliant writer, a serious person with very penetrating things to say about everyone and everything surrounding the Graham Platner phenomenon. Read this.
I JUST HAD BREAKFAST WITH GRAHAM PLATNER
open.substack.com/pub/sebastia...
I JUST HAD BREAKFAST WITH GRAHAM PLATNER
open.substack.com/pub/sebastia...
I JUST HAD BREAKFAST WITH GRAHAM PLATNER
Here is what you need to know.
open.substack.com
June 4, 2026 at 3:38 AM
Sebastian Junger is a brilliant writer, a serious person with very penetrating things to say about everyone and everything surrounding the Graham Platner phenomenon. Read this.
I JUST HAD BREAKFAST WITH GRAHAM PLATNER
open.substack.com/pub/sebastia...
I JUST HAD BREAKFAST WITH GRAHAM PLATNER
open.substack.com/pub/sebastia...
Remarkable piece by David French should be the basis of a mandatory course in every high school and college in America. If you can't see behind the paywall, the most important sentence is Santayana's:
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/05/31/o...
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/05/31/o...
Opinion | The Fire of Stupidity Cannot Be Contained
www.nytimes.com
May 31, 2026 at 5:46 PM
Remarkable piece by David French should be the basis of a mandatory course in every high school and college in America. If you can't see behind the paywall, the most important sentence is Santayana's:
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/05/31/o...
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/05/31/o...
Many lessons can be learned from how Hungary finally defeated Orban. This is perhaps the most important: "They were united by a sense of moral outrage."
www.nytimes.com/2026/05/29/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026/05/29/o...
May 29, 2026 at 6:13 PM
Many lessons can be learned from how Hungary finally defeated Orban. This is perhaps the most important: "They were united by a sense of moral outrage."
www.nytimes.com/2026/05/29/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026/05/29/o...
Reposted by Marshall Herskovitz
The tech bros gave us crypto currency that isn’t currency, artificial intelligence that isn’t intelligence, and prediction markets that are inside-trader scams.
On the other hand, they have given us gigantic data centers that employ no one and destroy communities. So there’s that.
On the other hand, they have given us gigantic data centers that employ no one and destroy communities. So there’s that.
May 24, 2026 at 3:58 PM
The tech bros gave us crypto currency that isn’t currency, artificial intelligence that isn’t intelligence, and prediction markets that are inside-trader scams.
On the other hand, they have given us gigantic data centers that employ no one and destroy communities. So there’s that.
On the other hand, they have given us gigantic data centers that employ no one and destroy communities. So there’s that.
Reposted by Marshall Herskovitz
“Once men turned their thinking over to machines in the hope that this would set them free. But that only permitted other men with machines to enslave them.”
Dune (1965)
Frank Herbert
Dune (1965)
Frank Herbert
May 24, 2026 at 11:45 PM
“Once men turned their thinking over to machines in the hope that this would set them free. But that only permitted other men with machines to enslave them.”
Dune (1965)
Frank Herbert
Dune (1965)
Frank Herbert
You have to actually read it to understand how corrupt this administration really is:
May 25, 2026 at 3:54 AM
You have to actually read it to understand how corrupt this administration really is:
Once again @washingtonpost.com shows how shamefully captured it is by tech self-interest. See below the substance of Trump's EO, perhaps the most reasonable he's ever contemplated, reminiscent of safeguards against nuclear accidents.
To WaPo it is unendurable government intrusion.
wapo.st/4varGo1
To WaPo it is unendurable government intrusion.
wapo.st/4varGo1
May 22, 2026 at 8:57 PM
Once again @washingtonpost.com shows how shamefully captured it is by tech self-interest. See below the substance of Trump's EO, perhaps the most reasonable he's ever contemplated, reminiscent of safeguards against nuclear accidents.
To WaPo it is unendurable government intrusion.
wapo.st/4varGo1
To WaPo it is unendurable government intrusion.
wapo.st/4varGo1
Dreyer never mentions that as an authoritarian state, China's people accept universal surveillance as a normal part of life.
Americans don't, and shouldn't.
And they're just learning that every time you use AI you're helping to create a universal surveillance state.
www.nytimes.com/2026/05/09/o...
Americans don't, and shouldn't.
And they're just learning that every time you use AI you're helping to create a universal surveillance state.
www.nytimes.com/2026/05/09/o...
Opinion | Why China Is So Much Less Scared of A.I.
www.nytimes.com
May 22, 2026 at 5:57 PM
Dreyer never mentions that as an authoritarian state, China's people accept universal surveillance as a normal part of life.
Americans don't, and shouldn't.
And they're just learning that every time you use AI you're helping to create a universal surveillance state.
www.nytimes.com/2026/05/09/o...
Americans don't, and shouldn't.
And they're just learning that every time you use AI you're helping to create a universal surveillance state.
www.nytimes.com/2026/05/09/o...